Johnston County Budget Passes With Split Vote

In a 5-to-2 split vote, Johnston County Commissioners approved a $171.7 million budget.

Commissioners Allen Mims and Jeff Carver voted against the budget citing concerns about the county’s fund balance dipping below 15 percent.

The budget is $2.9 million more than what County Manager Rick Hester had proposed, but still less than the current fiscal year’s budget ending June 30.

“I think without question this has been the most difficult budget we have seen here in a long time,” Mr. Hester told WTSB. “However, it is difficult everywhere.”

According to the county manager’s report, $7.1 million in reserve funds will be used during the 2009-2010 fiscal year to balance the budget. The 78 cents property tax rate will remain unchanged for the seventh consecutive year. Growth in the county’s tax base normally increases 5.5 percent each year, however due to economic conditions, a more modest 3.1 percent growth is predicted for the 2009-2010 fiscal year.

via Johnston County Budget Passes With Split Vote.

theherald-nc.com | Budget clock ticking

JOHNSTON COUNTY — Budget crunch time is coming on fast.

County Commissioners will finish their budget by month’s end but say they’ll face some tough decisions before they’re done.

“We have been hit so hard, especially lately, with the community college, schools, everybody saying, ‘Well, we’re going to need more [because] the state’s not giving us enough,’” Chairman Wade Stewart said at a meeting last week.

One of the biggest challenges is compensating for shifting budget numbers out of Raleigh, commissioners and staff said, “These numbers, as we’re seeing them, it’s like quicksand,” said Rick Hester, county manager. “They keep changing.”

via theherald-nc.com | Budget clock ticking.

Budget clock ticking for Johnston County

JOHNSTON COUNTY — Budget crunch time is coming on fast.

County Commissioners will finish their budget by month’s end but say they’ll face some tough decisions before they’re done.

“We have been hit so hard, especially lately, with the community college, schools, everybody saying, ‘Well, we’re going to need more [because] the state’s not giving us enough,’” Chairman Wade Stewart said at a meeting last week.

via theherald-nc.com | Budget clock ticking.

Governor stumps in Greenville for schools

WINTERVILLE — Gov. Beverly Perdue held one of her “Save Education” rallies in Greenville Monday bringing in area educators as well as some protesters.

The rally was an attempt to gain support for Perdue’s proposed plan to cut next year’s $4.7 million budget deficit by encouraging the General Assembly to find $1 billion more for education.

“In North Carolina, we really have to act boldly, and I mean boldly, to protect our classrooms. … If you cut the classroom, in the long term and short term we cripple North Carolina’s economy.” to gain support for Perdue’s proposed plan to cut next year’s $4.7 million budget deficit by encouraging the General Assembly to find $1 billion more for education.

“In North Carolina, we really have to act boldly, and I mean boldly, to protect our classrooms. … If you cut the classroom, in the long term and short term we cripple North Carolina’s economy.”

via Goldsboro News-Argus | News: Governor stumps in Greenville for schools.